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ACUPUNCTURE RESEARCH & LINKSAcupuncture for Dry Mouth: Point Increases Saliva Production and Brain Activity
By: Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOM
A study published in the July, 2008 issue of BMC Complementary Alternative Medicine found that the acupuncture point, Large Intestine 2 (LI 2), increased saliva production as well as brain activity that is associated with saliva production.
Researchers from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York decided to study the effects of stimulating the acupuncture point, LI 2, because previous clinical trials showed that acupuncture appeared to reduce dry mouth or xerostomia in patients previously treated with head and neck radiation therapy. This study involved the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to analyze the extent to which stimulating LI 2 affected saliva production. Large Intestine 2 (LI 2) is an acupuncture point located just above the knuckle on the side of the index finger. It is part of the Large Intestine meridian, an energetic pathway that traverses the neck, cheek and mouth. For this study, volunteers underwent true acupuncture the acupuncture point LI-2 and sham acupuncture while their saliva production and brain activity were measured. The researchers reported that saliva production was significantly higher during true acupuncture than during sham acupuncture. Activation of the parietal operculum, rolandic operculum, frontal operculum, and insula bilaterally were noted, whereas sham acupuncture did not activate these or any other regions. There was a good correlation between saliva production and insula/operculum activation. Source: BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2008, 8:37
Observation on Therapeutic Effect of Blood-letting Therapy on Apoplectic Hemiplegia Numbness Syndrome Source PubMed
Chinese herbs research top of page home page Acupuncture for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Takahashi T., Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA. Chinese herbs research top of page home page [We.D.3712] AIDS AND ADDICTION: A MODEL OF LONG TERM CARE Issue: The person with AIDS who is chemically dependent has special needs, requiring an integrated model of care. Project: H.E.L.P./Project Samaritian, Inc. is a 66-bed long term care facility located in the heart of the HIV epidemic in the Bronx, New York. The program addresses the special needs of the person with AIDS who is chemically dependent, often homeless or incarcerated, and frequently co-infected with tuberculosis. H.E.L.P./P.S.I. has developed a model for Primary Care utilizing an interdisciplinary team approach. This program provides primary HIV medical care, with an alternative component of acupuncture and herbal medicine, intensive resident education, 24 hour nursing care, a graduated phase substance abuse program within an adaptive therapeutic community, therapeutic activities, and a special activities track for people with HIV-cognitive impairment. Results: The program has filled a special need, providing a higher quality of life, medical stabilization, and, for over half of the residents, a return to independent community living. Lessons learned: People with AIDS and chemical dependence can achieve an improved quality of life and recovery from chemical abuse through an integrated care model in a setting of a nursing home/adaptive therapeutic community. Barbara Zeller, M.D., 1401 University Avenue, Bronx, New York, 10452 Chinese herbs research top of page home page
An Overview of Two Complementary Treatments for Chronic Asthma: Acupuncture and Homeopathy McCarney RW, et al. Department of Psychological Medicine, Imperial College, Room 4.06, Paterson Centre, 20 South Wharf Road, London W2 1PD, UK. r.mccarney@imperial.ac.ukAcupuncture and homeopathy are commonly used complementary treatments for chronic asthma. This review summarizes two recently updated Cochrane systematic reviews that assess the safety and efficacy of homeopathy or acupuncture in individuals with chronic stable asthma. Researchers only included randomized controlled trials and undertook statistical aggregation of the data where possible. Searches for both reviews were done with the assistance of the Cochrane Airways Group, and through electronic alerts. In the acupuncture review, 11 studies with 324 participants met the inclusion criteria. Trial reporting was poor and the trial quality was deemed inadequate to generalize the findings. There was variation in the type of active and sham acupunctures, the outcomes assessed, and the time points measured. The points used in the sham arm of some studies are used for the treatment of asthma according to traditional Chinese medicine. Two studies used individualized treatment strategies, and one study used a combination strategy of formula acupuncture with the addition of individualized points. No statistically significant or clinically relevant effects were found for acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture. When data from two small studies were pooled, no difference in lung function was observed (post-treatment FEV1): standardized mean difference 0.12, 95% confidence interval 0.31 to 0.55). Researchers concluded there is not enough evidence to recommend the use of acupuncture in the treatment of asthma. Further research needs to be undertaken, and this should take into account the different types of acupuncture practiced. Chinese herbs research top of page home page Phillips KD, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX.Researchers tested 21 subjects to determine the effect of 5 weeks of acupuncture treatment in a group setting on pain and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The subjects completed the Pain Rating Scale and the Subjective Peripheral Neuropathy Screen (SPNS) before and after 5 weeks of acupuncture. The acupuncture treatments occurred two evenings per week. Each of the 10 sessions consisted of participants receiving 10-15 needle insertions in acupoints that addressed the individual's changing pattern of pain, sleep problems, or other health issues. The treatment utilized only main or common points located below the elbows and knees, and on the head, neck, and ears. Only reactive points were used in the acupuncture treatments. Needles were left in situ for 30-45 minutes. A comparison of the pretreatment and post-treatment Pain Rating Scale results indicated a significant reduction in present pain (p = 0.0002), least and most pain in the last 24 hours (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0004, respectively) and the total pain summary score (p < 0.0001). Symptoms reported in the SPNS were reduced during the 5 weeks of acupuncture. Scores for pain/aching/burning, pins and needles, and numbness in the hands and feet were reduced (all significant at less than p 0.0065), as well as the total summary score (p = 0.0001). Researchers concluded the results of this study indicate that subjective pain and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy were reduced during the period of individual acupuncture therapy delivered in a group setting. While the study design did not allow for control of nonspecific placebo factors, the data support the hypothesis that acupuncture in a group setting can reduce pain and neuropathic symptoms in HIV-infected individuals. Stimulation of P6 for Preventing Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting Lee A, Done M. et al. Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, HONG KONG.Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are common complications following surgery and anaesthesia. Drug therapy to prevent PONV is only partially effective. An alternative approach is to stimulate a P6 acupoint on the wrist. Although there are many trials examining this technique, the results so far are conflicting.: To determine the efficacy and safety of P6 acupoint stimulation in preventing PONV researchers searched CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 2003), MEDLINE (January 1966 to January 2003), EMBASE (January 1988 to January 2003) and the National Library of Medicine publication list of acupuncture studies up to and including January 2003. Reference lists of retrieved papers and reviews were consulted for additional references. They selected all randomized trials of techniques that stimulated the P6 acupoint compared with: sham treatment or drug therapy for the prevention of PONV. Interventions used in these trials included acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, transcutaneous nerve stimulation, laser stimulation, acustimulation device and acupressure. Two reviewers independently assessed methodological quality and extracted the data. Primary outcomes were incidences of nausea and vomiting. Secondary outcomes were the need for rescue antiemetic therapy and adverse effects. A random effects model was used and relative risk (RR) with associated 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) are reported. Egger's test was used to measure the asymmetry of the funnel plot. Reviewers included 26 (n = 3347), none of which reported adequate allocation concealment. There were significant reductions in the risks of nausea (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.89), vomiting (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.91) and the need for rescue antiemetics (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.00) in the P6 acupoint stimulation group compared with the sham treatment, although many of the trials were heterogeneous. There was no evidence of difference in the risk of nausea and vomiting in the P6 acupoint stimulation group versus individual antiemetic groups. However, when different antiemetics were pooled, there was significant reduction in the risk of nausea but not vomiting in the P6 acupoint stimulation group compared with the antiemetic group (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.98; RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.65 to 1.29 respectively). The side effects associated with P6 acupoint stimulation were minor. There was some evidence of asymmetry of the funnel plot. Researchers concluded this review supports the use of P6 acupoint stimulation in patients without antiemetic prophylaxis. Compared with antiemetic prophylaxis, P6 acupoint stimulation seems to reduce the risk of nausea but not vomiting. Chinese herbs research top of page home page By Wu B; Zhou RX; Zhou MS. [Effect of acupuncture on interleukin-2 level and NK cell immunoactivity of peripheral blood of malignant tumor patients] Chung-Kuo Chung Hsi i Chieh Ho Tsa Chih, 1994 Sep, 14(9):537-9. Abstract: This paper deals with the observation of acupuncture therapy affecting interleukin-2(IL-2 level and natural killer (NK) cell immunoactivity in the peripheral blood of patients with malignant tumors. In this clinical-laboratory test research, randomized double blind method was used. The patients were divided into an acupuncture treated group (n = 25) and a control group (n = 20). The former group was treated using points, ST36, LI11, RN6 and locations of symptomatic points bilaterally. They received one treatment of 30 minutes daily for 10 days. The results showed that the IL-2 level and NK cell activity were lower than normal in patients with malignant tumor, but there was an increase in the acupuncture group after 10 days of treatment. Significance was found to be remarkable (P < 0.01). The difference between the two groups was also significant (P < 0.01). This increase might be related to the mechanism of acupuncture of adjusting the body's immune function. Thus, acupuncture therapy could enhance the cellular immune function of patients with malignant tumors and providing a beneficial effect in anti-cancer treatment Chinese herbs research top of page home page By Chen HL; Huang XM Treatment of chemotherapy-induced leukocytopenia with acupuncture and moxibustionChung Hsi i Chieh Ho Tsa Chih Chinese Journal of Modern Developments in Traditional Medicine, 1991 Jun, 11(6):350-2, 325. Abstract: The effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on 376 cases of chemotherapy-induced leukocytopenia was observed in patients with malignant tumors in the intermediary and advanced stages. Findings revealed that the total effect in 121 cases (88.4%) occurred in the group treated with acupuncture and moxibustion with warming needle; while the total effect in 221 cases (90.9%) was in the group treated with moxibustion with ignited moxa cone. A comparison made between the 2 groups showed no significant difference (P greater than 0.05). The total effective rate was 38.2% when compared with the control group using batylalcohol and pentoxyl and so the difference was significant (P less than 0.01). Analysis found that with patients having higher basic WBC value, the effect would be higher. Conversely, those who had lower basic value in their WBCs, the expected effect would be lower. These findings suggest that acupuncture and moxibustion in raising the effect on the white cells were influenced by the extent to which the bone marrow was inhibited, having no relevance to the kind of disease, the chemotherapy regime, and the treatment course which the patient was in.
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